Grillby arrived home shortly after eleven thirty that night. As he stepped into the house, he noticed the TV was on. The fire elemental strode into the living room and found Pap fast asleep on his couch. Pictures of Pap and his brother were spread out in his lap. A few had fallen to the floor. Grillby picked up a photo displaying Papyrus wearing a goofy pair of glasses that gave him an exaggerated moustache. A Sans, one different from the one he knew, stood in the background laughing uncontrollably.

The fire hummed softly before he glanced once more at the sleeping skeleton. Grillby reached down and placed a warm hand on top of the Pap's skull. The monster let out a low whimper and sank further into the furniture. Grillby moved his hand to Pap's shoulder and shook him gently.

"Papyrus… Wake up."

Pap groaned and half opened one of his sockets, "Nnnmm."

"You fell asleep on the couch… If you wish to rest, you should move yourself to your bedroom." Grillby told him.

Pap slowly raised a hand and rubbed his sockets, "Didn't mean to.. Was watching TV…" he grumbled out in a tired slur.

Grillby finally removed his hand from the skeleton and crossed his arms over his chest, "Did you at least do as I asked before lazing yourself about my couch?"

Pap glanced up at the fire and shot him a small glare before he pointed back at the counter in the dining room, "Over there."

Grillby looked over and walked to the counter. He picked up the application and smiled softly. "Good job… I'm proud of you."

Pap blinked, "Wait, seriously?"

Grillby approached the skeleton once more and handed him back the photo in his hand, "You surpassed my expectation. I thought you were going to try and fight me on it. But you did as you were told. So I'm proud of you."

A small, orange haze dusted Pap's cheekbones as he took back the photo and began to sort through the rest of the mess in his lap, "Yeah, well… Like you said. The sooner I get a job, the sooner I get outta here. Plus, having a job might help make the time go by faster. Then before I know it, I'll be healed up and I can go back home to my own timeline."

Grillby hummed in response before he turned away from skeleton. He made his way into the kitchen and opened the fridge. He pulled out two bottles and examined them, "What do you think about stars, Papyrus?"

Pap raised a bony brow at the odd question, "I dunno. I've never actually seen them before," he stated, "Closest thing we had was the gemstone ceiling in Waterfall."

"Follow me," Grillby commanded as he began to walk through the house and down the hall toward the bedrooms.

The skeleton scowled, but stood before he followed Grillby. The two monsters entered Grillby's bedroom. Pap gave the fire a questioning look before Grillby reached up and grabbed a hold of a cord dangling from the ceiling. He tugged it and a ladder dropped down from an open hatch.

Pap jumped back and Grillby chuckled. He began to climb up, "Come."

"Don'tcha ever say please?" Pap muttered, but followed the flaming monster up the ladder. The skeleton found himself on a platform on Grillby's roof. Two lawn chairs were set up with a telescope between them. "Come up here often?"

Grillby hummed in response to his question before he pointed up at the sky, "Look."

Pap looked up and his sockets widened a bit. The darkened sky was a light with a full moon. Stars glittered the entirety of everything above. It was endless. Pap had never been sure what to expect when coming to the surface, but what he was staring at in that moment was more beautiful than anything he could have ever imagined. "...Whoa." he murmured softly as he climbed all the way up.

Grillby took a seat in one of the lawn chairs and gestured for Pap to join him, "Much better than Waterfall, isn't it?"

Pap walked over and took a seat in the other chair. "Yeah… I can't believe I'm actually seeing this with my own sockets…"

Grillby offered one of the drinks to Pap, who took it without breaking his gaze from the sky, "Sans loves to stargaze. We have spent many nights up here to watch the sky while carrying conversations." Grillby told him.

Pap's sockets softened and he dropped his gaze to his feet, "Yeah… My Sans woulda loved this too. He use to collect astronomy magazines from the Dump. And kept glow in the dark star sticks on his bedroom ceiling. Heh…" Pap's ribcage felt heavy as he recalled the memories.

Grillby watched him for a moment, "You miss your brother?"

"Course I do," Pap's voice broke slightly, but he quickly cleared his throat, "I miss 'em every second I'm here without him."

"I haven't seen you cry yet. Doesn't one normally mourn loved ones who have been lost?"

Pap shot a glare toward the fire, "I don't need to mourn 'em. I'm gonna get him back as soon as I'm healed up."

The fire monster glanced up at the stars, "What if you never heal?"

Pap set his jaw, "What're you talkin' about? 'Course I'm gonna heal. That's why I got this dumb device on my soul. Soon as the cracks are closed up, I'm gonna head back to my timeline and make things right."

"...But what if they never close up? What if you'll never recover from your traumatic injury? What if you're stuck here with us?"

Pap shot up from his seat. It flew back behind him as he glared at the fire, "Then I'll die trying to bring him back! What kinda sick mind games you playing at here, huh? What's with all the questions?" he snapped, fists shaking at his sides.

Grillby looked up calmly at the skeleton, "I'm not trying to play games with you, Papyrus. I'm genuinely curious. You seem to be stuck in your denial. You aren't prepared for any other outcomes. If you're unwilling to accept your circumstances, then it'll be that much more devastating when you don't receive what you're expecting to happen. And it'll be much harder for you to deal with the emotional trauma."

"That's not your concern! I'll cross that bridge if I get to it. But I'm not gonna just stand by and give up! Why do you even care anyway!?" he yelled.

"Sans was expressing his concerns to me today. Neither him nor Alphys have seen such damage to a soul. In all honesty, he doesn't even know if the damage can be healed. And if it does, it won't erase the psychological scars. You'll never be the same monster you once were. If you did manage to return home, how would you explain the changes? They won't remember, but you may."

Pap hesitated a moment, then looked away, "Doesn't matter. Anything is better than them staying dead. I can deal with the questions when I get there… But I can't focus at the negatives. I gotta stay strong. For everyone."

Grillby relaxed back in his seat as he focused back up at the night sky, "Such courageous words. If you could back them up, you'd have made a fine soldier."

Pap gave a small huff as he began to cool down, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I was a soldier once," Grillby stated, "Long before the monsters were sealed Underground. We lost that war. But had we had soldiers like you, the kind who never gave up and were determined, no matter the consequence, perhaps that war would have turned out differently."

Pap walked over and retrieved the chair he had knocked over. He returned it to its rightful spot and sat back onto it, "No wonder you're so grumpy all the time."

Grillby glanced at the skeleton before raising a fiery brow, "Hm?"

Pap popped open his drink and tilted his skull back to chug its contents. Once the bottle was empty, an orange haze dusted his face and he fell back against his seat. "You lost a war. And ya never got over it. S'why you're grumpy all the time," Pap stated with a small slur.

Grillby stared at the skeleton, than gave a small tsk, "Are you… Drunk already?" he snickered.

"No!" Pap huffed, "Just buzzed." He sank further into the chair and glanced back up at the sky in silence.

"I take it your alcohol tolerance isn't very high then." Grillby mused. He set his drink aside and stood. He walked over to Pap before easily picking up the skeleton. He slipped one arm under his knees while the other supported his back.

Pap blinked roughly as he was suddenly hafted out of his seat, "H-Hey! Whattaya doin'!? Pumme down!" he yelped as he attempted to struggle out of his hold.

"Relax Papyrus," Grillby told him, "Sans would be upset with me if I allowed you to fall from the roof in your state. Let's bring you back into the house."

The skeleton grumbled unintelligibly as he was carried back inside. Grillby returned to the living area and set Pap down on the couch. He took a seat next to the other monster. Pap sank down in his seat as he stared at the television in front of him.

"...Why do you hate me so much? What'd I do?" Pap suddenly asked.

Grillby glanced at Pap, "What makes you ask that?"

"Cause!" Pap exclaimed as he threw his arms up in the air, "I haven't done anything! Y'know? It'd be nice if ya actually tried to get to know me."

"What would be the point in that?" Grillby asked him, "You plan to leave soon, yes? Wouldn't it be easier if you didn't get attached to anyone? Besides, you're just like Sans, aren't you? I already know him pretty well."

Pap set his jaw, "I'm not Sans… I'm my own monster! I'm not some carbon copy! Besides, if I was Sans, you'd actually like me, wouldn't you!? You guys seem buddy-buddy…"

"... Are you jealous?"

Pap's face twisted with confusion, "Wha- Wait, hell no! The hell I'd be jealous for? I'm tryin' ta make a point here."

"Hm.." Grillby stared down at Pap, "I don't like you because you are an inconvenience." the fire shrugged.

"... I really wanna punch ya right now." Pap murmured.

"There will be repercussions if you do, Papyrus." Grillby told him in a rather dark tone.

Pap sat there quietly for a moment, then gave a soft snort, "If I'm such an inconvenience, why the hell did you agree to house me?"

"Would you prefer to live in the streets?" Grillby asked him.

"No! But I coulda roomed with Alphy and Undyne! And even though it'd be less then ideal livin' arrangements, least they'd be a hellava lot nicer to me then you are! Least they'd try to be civil!" Pap snapped.

Grillby crossed his arms over his chest and raised a fiery brow, "Then why don't you? I'm not holding you here."

Pap gave a frustrated growl before he stood up, "Fine! I'll be out in the morning!" The skeleton went to storm to his room, however the sudden movement in his impaired state made him lose his balance and he crashed face first onto the floor.

Grillby sighed and stood from the couch. He approached Pap and attempted to lift him up. However, as soon as Grillby touch the skeleton, he began to flail.

"Don't touch me!" he yelled and threw a punch toward Grillby's face.

Suddenly, his wrist was caught in a heated grip before he could land a hit. He grunted as he was pinned back on the floor. Grillby's free hand grasped Pap's lower jaw as his flames crackled wildly with his raising irritation.

"Papyrus, choose your next movements very carefully," Grillby warned in a low growl, "Because you will not like what comes next should you pick a fight with me."

Pap winced as Grillby's grip tightened on his wrist. He scowled up at the fire as he threatened him. However, he realized he had taken it too far. He looked away from Grillby and attempted to gently tug his wrist out of Grillby's hold.

Grillby released his hold on the skeleton before he moved off of him. "Wise decision."

Pap grunted before he got to his feet. He glanced at his wrist and noticed the bones were now darkened with soot. "..." The skeleton closed his sockets, than turned away and retreated into his room. "G'night." he muttered before he closed his door behind him.

Grillby watched him and gave a small sigh while he ran a hand through his flames. He took out his cell phone and speed dialed Sans. "I need to speak with you…" he said as he disappeared into his own room.

Pap groaned as he awoke to his skull pounding. His hand slowly slid up to his head and half opened one of his sockets, "Chuggin' that beer was a mistake…" he murmured and sat up. As his covers fell away, he noted the injury on his wrist and recalled the events of last night.

The sun peeked through his curtains and the chirping of birds could be heard outside. The skeleton slipped off his mattress and approached the window. However, as he pulled back the silk like cloth, he blinked roughly. "... What the?" Pap muttered to himself. Iron bars blocked off the window. But the most usual aspect as it was barred off from the inside. The skeleton couldn't even open the window to let in the cool morning air. "Didn't notice that before…"

Pap moved away from the window and stepped out of his room. As he entered the living area, he spotted Grillby in the dining room. It seemed he was reading something off his phone while drinking from a mug. Pap's ribcage became heavy with guilt and he looked away as he made his way to the couch and collapsed down on the furniture.

"Papyrus…"

Pap cringed as he heard Grillby say his name in that grough voice. Was the fire still mad about last night? Hesitantly, Pap peeked over the back of the couch and raised a bony brow. "...Yeah?"

Grillby now had his head turned towards the skeleton. The fire elemental motioned to an empty chair besides him. Pap scowled, then sighed before he pushed himself off the couch and walked over to the dining room table. He lowered himself into a chair next to Grillby before he leaned forward and crossed his arms over the surface without making eye contact with Grillby. They sat there in a few minutes of awkward silence before Grillby cleared his throat.

"Do you still intend to leave today?" Grillby asked him.

Pap sat there for a moment as he stared off at a wall, "... Do you want me to?"

Grillby sighed, "It's not about what I want-"

"But it's your home," Pap interrupted him, "This is your place. If you're really not okay with me being here… Then I'll go talk to Alphys about moving in to her place."

Grillby watched Pap for a moment, "Papyrus… I want to apologize for my behavior towards you."

Pap blinked roughly before finally turning his head to look at the fire, "Come again?"

"You were right. I could have welcomed you more kindly. I have been hard on you while you've been struggling to understand what has happened to you." Grillby told him, "I've been selfish. And while I can't say I'd like you to stay, I will say that you are welcome to."

Pap scowled a bit, but his expression softened. He guessed it was the closest thing to kindness he would get from the fire. "Thanks Grillbz."

A small, blue haze erupted into Grillby's flames. But before Pap could question it, Grillby stood and walked over to the counter. "Would you like some coffee?"

"Sure," Pap watched as Grillby retrieved another mug from the cabinet and poured the dark liquid into it.

"Cream and sugar?" he heard the fire ask.

"Please."

Grillby gave a small nod and added the extras to his drink before he returned to the table. By then, the blue coloring had faded from his flames. Swap wondered what it meant. He thanked Grillby for the coffee and took a sip. His sockets widened for a moment, then his expression fell.

"Is it not to your liking?" Grillby asked as he noted his reaction.

"I do. It's perfect. Just…" he stared down at the contents of his cup and gave a weak chuckle, "It's weird. It's just like how Muffet use to make it. She use to drop a cup of coffee off at my sentry stations every once in a while. She use to tell me she just wanted to make sure I didn't fall asleep on the job. But I liked to think it was an excuse to check up on me."

"... Did you like her?"

A soft orange haze dusted Pap's cheekbones, "Well, yeah. She was my friend."

Grillby rolled his embers, "You know that's not what I meant."

Pap looked away as he drank his coffee.

Grillby sat there in silence for a moment, "Did you have relations with her?"

Pap gagged on his drink and covered his mouth as some of it dripped down his jaw, "What kind of question is that?" he yelped with a cough, "N-No, but even if we had, that's none of your business."

"Apologies." Grillby said in that monotone voice.

Pap wiped his face clean with his sleeve, "You're kinda clueless on how to talk to people," he grumbled.

"Oh?" Grillby tilted his head slightly, "What makes you say such a thing?"

Pap shot him a look, "Ya ask a lot of personal and inappropriate questions."

"I'm just genuinely curious. I wonder just how similar you are with the Sans I am accustomed to." Grillby told him.

Pap opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. Grillby gave him a questioning look, but the skeleton simply shook his skull and finished his coffee.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Pap asked him in an attempt to change the subject.

Grillby was silent for a moment and relaxed back in his seat, "We're going to apply for your citizenship. Then do some shopping. You need new clothes. Your current outfit is filthy and torn to rags."

Pap blinked before he glanced down at his hoodie. It was still stained with the human's blood and ripped in a few places. He scowled to himself, "Shame to see this hoodie go. I've had it for years."

"Nothing can last forever, Papyrus. Now, go shower. We have a lot to do today."

Pap gave a small nod and stood. He made his way to the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He stripped free from his clothes and took a moment to admire himself in the mirror above the sink. He could see his encased soul through his ribcage. The cracks glowed dimly with his orange magic. The words Grillby spoke about never healing rang through his skull. He scowled to himself then shook his head.

He started the water and climbed into the tub. He scrubbed himself down quickly, making sure to get rid of any signs of blood or dust. Once he was satisfied with his cleanliness, he turned off the water and pulled the current back. To his shock, he found a towel and new set of clothes sitting on the sink counter. His old clothes were now missing. Pap stood there for a moment, dumbfounded.

"...Did you really come in here while I was showering…?" he murmured to himself. So much for privacy. The skeleton sighed and reached for the towel. At least the fire was only being thoughtful. He would need to learn some boundaries though if they were going to get along.

Pap rubbed himself down with the towel before dressing himself in the new clothes. They seemed to belong to Grillby, as they were huge on the skeleton's thin frame. He couldn't even keep the pants from fall off his pelvis. Pap poked his head out of the bathroom door.

"Hey Grillbz! You got a belt I can borrow? I can't keep these pants up." he called. In a moment, Grillby appeared from his room and handed him a belt through the door. "Thanks." Pap told him. He slipped the belt through the loops and pulled it as tight as it would go. They were still loose, but at least they stayed over his pelvis now. He pulled the white button up over his head and rolled the sleeves up. It wasn't exactly his style, but he guessed it would have to do.

The skeleton stepped out of the restroom and returned to the living room. The fire elemental had also changed into a button up and vest. He glanced at Pap and scowled, "Oh honestly. Have you never dressed appropriately before?" he muttered as he walked over to him. He knelt in front of Pap and began tucking his shirt in.

The skeleton's cheekbones flushed orange, "H-Hey, ya coulda just said something and I woulda done it myself. I ain't a kid." he grumbled.

Grillby rolled his embers and continued to straighten out Pap's shirt, "I should not have to tell you. And if you're not a child, then prove it and act more your age." Once his shirt was nicely smoothed out, Grillby evened out his sleeves before he stood up straight. "There. Now you look presentable," he gave a small smile, "You clean up nicely, Papyrus."

Pap glanced off to the side, "Uh, thanks. I guess."

"You're welcome." Grillby turned away from the skeleton and made his way over to his jacket, "Now, let's get a move on. Daylight is burning."

Pap gave a small snort, "Guess I should get the sunscreen ready then."

Grillby rolled the embers behind his glasses, "You don't even have skin to burn."

Pap glanced down at his blacken wrist, "Yeah, but I can still get burns on my bones."

"Can you now? How interesting," Grillby said with almost a purr and a small smirk.

Pap felt a chill run down his spine, but he shook off his unease and ignored Grillby's last comment as they made their way to the garage.